Authorities in Bor town of South Sudan’s Jonglei State on Friday arrested six people suspected to be involved in violence and incitement of inter-communal feuds over a piece of land in Bor West County.
Early last week, some Biong community members forcibly evicted members of Thony community from an area in Bor West County accusing them of occupying and fishing in the area illegally. In retaliation, some Thony community members forced some Biong members to leave, rising tensions among the two local communities.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Atong Kuol, Jonglei information minister said calm had returned to Bor West County and Malou, Leng-guet and Leudiet areas of Makuach County after government intervention, saying six people had been arrested.
“The dispute started early last week over a fishing right. But the government has formed some committees looking at the incidents. We are following some procedures because we do not want this to escalate. These two communities mostly the people of Thony and Biong are the ones fighting over land,” she said.
Minister Atong pointed out that several people have been displaced adding that investigations into the matter is on-going.